Compare towns
Everett vs Walpole vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Walpole has the most people working from home (28.2%).
Chelsea has the most renters (74% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Everett | Walpole | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045Highest |
26,388Lowest |
39,908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
40.9±1.2Highest about the MA average |
34.4±1.3Lowest 14% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$72,179±$8kLowest 31% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$493,500±$24kLowest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,956±$96Lowest 11% above MA |
| Walpole and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$3,321Lowest 45% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.4%±5.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chelsea and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
20.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
26%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1941 23 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #280 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Chelsea |
| High school in town | Everett High | Walpole High | Chelsea High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.